Attachment for gang-plows.



No. 650,205. Patented may 22, |900.

' 0. E. TowLE.

ATTACHMENT manne PLows.

(Application `filled Deo. 28, 1899.)

(N0 Modul.)

W/ TNESSES A770 NEYS TN: mums PETERS co, moro.' Tmc., wAsmrvcTcN, D. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID EDWARD TowLE, or PARK RIVER, NORTH DAKOTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR GANG-FLOWS.

SECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,205, dated May 22, 1900.

Application led December 28, 1899. Serial No. 741,832. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, DAVID EDWARD TovvLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Park River, in the county of Walsh and State of North Dakota, have invented a `new and Improved Soil-Packing Attachment for Gang- Plows, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment especially adapted for gangplows which will thoroughly pack the furrow-slice of the plow and at the same time roughen or corrugate the packed surface in order to prevent drifting.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be-had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gang-plow having the attachment applied thereto. Fig.

2 is a plan view of the plow and attachment, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the packing-wheels of the attachment. r

A represents the frame of a gang-plow, B the beams, and C the shares. A spreadingbar 10 is pivoted to the left-hand side of the frame A of the plow near the rear, and the said spreading-bar extends at right angles to the left-hand member of the frame in direction of the right-hand side beyond the righthand supporting-wheel, and the spreadingbar 10 is connected with the clevis of the plow or with the frame of the plow at the line of draft through the medium of a draft-bar 11. This draft-bar is usually made iu adjustable sections, as shown in Fig. 2, and is likewise adj ustably connected with the spreading-bar l0.

The packing attachment consists of a yoke 12, which carries a shaft 13, and packing- Wheels D, usually of cast metal, vmounted to revolve on the shaft l3,-are supported by a sleeve 14 or its equivalent. Each packingwheel is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 3, comprising a hub 14a, a disk or spokebody 15, and a rim 16, which rim extends beyond the sides of the body and is inclined in opposite directions at its outer face from a circumferential central point. The rim 16 is likewise provided with a series of recesses 17 in each side edge, and these recesses may be opposite each other or `they may be arranged so that the recesses on one side will 4be opposite the plain portion of the rim at the opposite side. The peculiar formation of the rims of the wheels D tends to corrugate or roughen the surface of the ground, while the wheels actto pack the soil. These `Wheels are so placed that they will be at the right-hand or furrow side of the furrow-plow C of the gang, and their position should be such that they will rest firmly on the center of the furrow-slice.

The attachment of the device to the spreading-bar is effected through the medium of links 18, pivotally attached to the yoke 12, of Vtheattachment and adj ustably pivoted to the spreading-bar. Thus it will be observed that the attachment may be applied to any form of plow.

By pressing or packing the soil as it is plowed the moisture in the ground is retained to a greater extent than when the soil is left loose. Furthermore, when the furrow-slice is packed it brings said furrow-slice in very close'relation with the subsoil, thereby assisting the ascent of moisture from below, as no air-space is left between the furrow-slice and subsoil over which it .is turned. The decay of Waste vegetable matter turned down is likewise hastened, increasing the amount of available plant-food in the soil. As stated, the corrugations made or the roughening of the packed surface prevent the soil from drifting when subjected to the action of high Winds, which occur in level stretches of country. The corrugations or ridges made by the attachment are readily leveled by the harrow, leaving a fine seed-bed and dust-blanket to prevent evaporation.

The benefit of the firm footing obtained through the use of the attachment and consequent packing of the earth is very evident in harvesting and it materially reduces the draft of the harvester and makes iteasier for the team. In loose and sticky soil the advantage of packing is very marked, as the plow works and cleans very much better in subsequent plowing. When the spreadingbar is to be attached to a walking-gang cousisting of two or vmore connected plows, the spreader-bar is clampedor otherwise attached to pr'eferablythe left-hand plow-beam, as

shown in dotted lines E in Fig. 2, as 'this style of implement is not provided with a frame, 'and when a spreading-bar is to be attached to-a gangof plows provided with a frame it may bey connected to the frame over the rear left-hand share, as shown at E in dotted lines' in Fig. 2, insteadV of at the rearvvv of the implement, as Shown in posit-ive lines in the said. figure.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A packing attachment forplows, consisting ofl a frame, a Wheel mounted' to turn in the-said frame, the rim of the Wheel being inclined and provided with recesses in its side edges the rim being solid between opposite recesses, and means for attaching' the frameof the attachment to the frame of a plow,yas described.

"2;A .packing attachment fonplows, con-4 sisting of a frame, means for adjustably attaching said frame to the frame of a plow,

and a-Wheel mounted to revolve within the With recesses in their side edges, for the pur- -pose set forth.

4. A Wheel for packing soil, provided with a rim tapering in opposite directions from a central line and provided Withside recesses, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I haveV signed my `naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

DAVID EDWARD TOWLE.

' Witnesses:

GEO.` E. ToWLE, FRANK SWBODA.l 

